Page images
PDF
EPUB

branches of pathology, and, although he is nearly seventy years old, still possesses the vim and push of a man of fifty. He is of rather slight build, with hair well turned gray, and a pair of gold.rimmed concave spectacles on the nose. He is not what would be considered a good lecturer, but he is an exceedingly good teacher, and, with his reputation, his institute is liberally patronized by the students. There are a number of good surgeons here, chief among whom is von Bergmann, and really, he is both a very skillful operator and an accomplished scholar and lecturer. Indeed, in many respects he reminds me of our own "Mac." He is Laugenbeck's worthy successor.

Of great interest at present to all, both professional and lay people, is the condition of Germany's Crown Prince. All admit now that the disease is carcinoma, and, indeed, the faculty here arrived at that diagnosis when the patient first presented himself. When Mackenzie was at length also forced to the same diagnosis, the disease had progressed so far as to make the prognosis from an operation very dubious; von Bergmann still proposed to operate, however, but the patient prefers to let the disease take its course. Some time ago, Bergmann extirpated the larynx of a patient with carcinoma, but after the case had progressed to nearly within the time for dismissal, suddenly died.

In a paper

The great event of the semester is the discovery of the "bacillus carcinoma." Investigators have been dilligently at work for some time past, seeking to prove the germ nature of this malady; but it remained for Dr. Sheuerlen, a young assistant of Dr. Leyden's, to make the first isolation of the bacillus, to give substantial evidence of its infectious nature, and to prove that the cause of their infection is a bacillus. read November 28, before the "Berlin Society for Internal Medicine," Dr. S. gave the results of his work, together with microscopical demonstrations in various forms. The methods followed were the ordinary ones of sterilized gelatine culture. Of the gelatine culture bacillus, a few minims are injected into the mamma and testicles of dogs, and within fourteen days the growth begins to make its appearance. Two of the dogs have been killed and the growth pronounced by authorities here to be carcinoma. Six other dogs are also infected, and besides. local growths, give evidence of secondary internal cancer as shown by gastric symptoms, bloody stools, etc.

The bacillus is small and has nothing characteristic in its appearance. Its shape is the following: while the

spores are of this shape 0 00. The bacillus gives no specific reaction with fuchsin, but the spores take the stain freely. Following the method for staining the bacillus tuberculosis (with fuchsin and brilliant green) the spores are stained red and the bacillus green. This, however, can be of little use from a diagnostic stand-point, inasmuch as many other growths give the same reaction; but the fact still remains, that by injecting the pure cultured germ, obtained from carcinoma, cancer is produced, and it remains for time and experiment to devise an efficient mode of differentiation. Present at the meeting were the professional elite of the city, and the subject of the paper was discussed and very generally credited by all.

Whether or no this discovery will be of practical use, the future will also have to decide. However, as it stands, it is certainly a matter of congratulation on all sides.

Very truly,

F. LOHRSTORFER, M. D., Class of '86, U of M.

BERLIN, GERMANY, November 29, 1887.

RESOLUTIONS ON THE DEATH OF ALONZO B. PALMER.

At a meeting of the Faculty of the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Michigan, held on the 24th day of December, 1887, the following action was taken regarding the death of our late colleague:

WHEREAS, It has pleased an All-wise Providence to remove from us by death our honored associate and fellow laborer of many years, Alonzo B. Palmer, M. D., LL. D., Professor of Pathology and the Practice of Medicine, and Dean of the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Michigan; and

WHEREAS, During his connection with this Department for one-third of a century, he has ever been earnestly devoted to its interests, its honor, and its prosperity, defending it by word and pen whenever assailed, showing a personal devotion rarely equaled and never excelled; and

WHEREAS, His earnest, upright, temperate, Christian life has ever been a powerful influence for good, impressing itself upon all who have listened to his teaching, both by precept and example; it is hereby

Resolved, That we express our sense of personal bereavement in his death, and that this Department and the University lose a wise counselor and a zealous friend.

Resolved, That we tender to Mrs. Palmer our heart-felt sympathy in this great affliction, and ask for her the support and consolation which God gives to his own beloved.

Resolved, That a copy of the above resolutions be presented to Mrs. Palmer, and furnished for publication.

C. L. FORD, M. D., Acting Dean.

W. A. CAMPBELL, M. D., Secretary.

HEALTH IN MICHIGAN.

Reports to the State Board of Health, Lansing, by observers in different parts of the State, show the diseases which caused most sickness in Michigan during the month of November (five weeks, ending December 3), 1887, as follows, the diseases arranged in the order of greatest prevalence:

Rheumatism, neuralgia, bronchitis, consumption of lungs, tonsilitis, intermittent fever, influenza, diarrhoea, remittent fever, pneumonia, erysipelas, inflammation of kidneys, diphtheria, typhoid fever (enteric), scarlet fever, typho-malarial fever, whooping-cough, inflammation of bowels, measles, dysentery, membranous croup, puerperal fever, cholera morbus, cholera infantum, cerebro-spinal meningitis, inflammation of brain.

For the month of November, 1887, compared with the preceding month, the reports indicate that pneumonia and erysipelas increased, and that typho-malarial fever, remittent fever, diarrhoea, dysentery, intermittent fever, and cholera morbus decreased in prevalence.

Compared with the preceding month the temperature in the month of November, 1887, was considerably lower, the absolute humidity and the day and the night ozone were considerably less, and the relative humidity was slightly more.

Compared with the average for the month of November in the nine years, 1879-1887, intermittent fever, typho-malarial fever, consumption of lungs, remittent fever and diphtheria were less prevalent in November, 1887.

For the month of November, 1887, compared with the average for corresponding months, in the nine years, 1879-1887, the temperature was about the same, the absolute and the relative humidity were slightly less, and the day and the night ozone

were less.

Including reports by regular observers and others, diphtheria was reported present in Michigan in the month of November, 1887, at sixty-three places, scarlet fever at thirty-six places,

typhoid fever at thirty-nine places, and measles at eighteen places.

Reports from all sources show diphtheria at five places. more, scarlet fever at the same number of places, typhoid fever at six places less, and measles at six places more in the month of November, 1887, than in the preceding month.

LANSING, December 8, 1887.

HENRY B. BAKER, M. D., Secretary.

EDITORIAL ARTICLES.

OBITUARY.

Alonzo B. Palmer, A. M., M. D., LL. D., died at his late residence, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, December 23, 1887. His last illness was of short duration, and his death a great surprise to all, excepting a few of his most intimate friends and colleagues. Two years ago he was attacked with pneumonia, and never after fully regained his former strength and vigor. For years he had been troubled with an enlarged prostate, which at no time prior to his last illness caused him any special inconvenience, but it ultimately became the cause of his death.

Dr. Palmer was born in Richfield, Otsego County, New York, October 6, 1815. He was educated in the schools and academies of Otsego, Herkimer and Oswego Counties, New York, and graduated in medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Western District of New York, in 1839. He passed the winter of 1847 and 1848 in New York City, and that of 1849 and 1850 in Philadelphia, in attendance on medical schools and hospitals, and then took up his residence at Tecumseh, Michigan, but removed to Chicago soon after. During 1852 he served as city physician during a severe cholera season among emigrants from the northern parts of Europe. In this same year he received the appointment of Professor of Anatomy in the Department of Medicine and Surgery in the University of Michigan. In 1854 he was transferred to the chair of Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Diseases of Women and Children; and in 1860 was transferred again, this time to the chair of Pathology and Practice of Medicine, and Clinical Medicine, which position he held to his death. The degree of A. M. was conferred upon him in 1855, by the University of Nashville, Tennessee. From 1859 until the opening of the war of the rebellion, in which he became subsequently engaged, his time was spent in the med

ical schools and hospitals of London, Dublin, Edinburgh, and Paris. He was appointed Professor of Pathology and Practice of Medicine in Berkshire Medical College, in 1864, and in 1869 to the same chair in the Medical School of Bowdoin College, Maine, delivering his lectures at the latter during the vacations of the University of Michigan, but resigning the Bowdoin position in 1879, when the course of lectures was extended to nine months in the last named institution.

Dr. Palmer had a number of positions of honor conferred upon him. He was a member of the American Medical Association, and took an active part in its meetings. He was elected its vice-president in 1860, and held that office during its suspension, and until its meeting in Chicago. He was elected honorary member of the New York Medical Society, and of the State Medical Society of Maine. He was president of the Michigan State Medical Society in 1872, and was President of the Section of Pathology in the Ninth International Medical Con

gress.

In the spring of 1861 he was appointed surgeon of the Second Michigan Infantry; was ranking surgeon in General Richardson's brigrade, at the first battle of Bull Run, and dressed the first wound inflicted by the enemy at Blackburn's Ford, on July 18. In September, 1861, he resigned, to resume his duties in the University of Michigan. He, however, visited the army as volunteer surgeon during the vacations of the college, on various occasions during the war.

Dr. Palmer made many contributions to medical literature, among which may be mentioned: "A Full Report of the Chicago Cholera Epidemic;" monographs on "Sulphate of Quinine;" "Asiatic Cholera;" "Paralysis;" and "Pneumonia." For seven years he was editor of the Peninsular Journal of Medicine. His more important works were: his published lectures on "Homoeopathy," criticising adversely the dogmas of that school; "A Manual on Asiatic Cholera;" "Text Book on the Theory and Practice of Medicine," and a manual on "Dysentery and Diarrhoea."

During the early portion of his professional life, Dr. Palmer enjoyed the labors of a large general practice, but after he became associated with the University of Michigan, he became devoted to the work of teaching, and the advancement and elevation of the medical profession. During the thirty-five years that his great energy was chiefly absorbed with his duties of instruction, nearly ten thousand students were profited by his

« PreviousContinue »